ISLAMABAD: In his maiden address to the nation on Saturday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted his government’s achievements during its first 100 days and outlined a five-year agenda aimed at economic stability and public welfare.
Key initiatives include abolishing corrupt or loss-making ministries and departments, expanding the tax base, and eliminating bureaucratic red tape to achieve the vision of Quaid’s Pakistan.
The prime minister credited his government’s prudent economic policies for reducing inflation from 38 percent to 12 percent, lowering the interest rate from 22 percent to 20 percent, and repeatedly cutting oil prices, including a recent reduction of Rs10.5 per litre for petrol and Rs2.5 per litre for diesel.
“We have defined the future course of action which we will pursue with utmost honesty and strictness. Every penny saved will be spent on public welfare… We will eliminate red tape. This journey is not only difficult and long but also demands sacrifices from both government authorities and the elite,” he stated in his televised address.
PM Sharif recalled the dire economic situation in April 2022, when the PDM government assumed office, noting that the country was on the brink of default. He emphasized that the PDM government, under the leadership of allied party heads including Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, made tough decisions that saved the country from default at the expense of their political capital.
“As a result of our performance over the past 16 months and the first 100 days of our current tenure, Pakistan is gradually emerging from crisis and moving towards stability and development,” he said.
He acknowledged that the path to economic stability and prosperity is challenging and that the public is looking to the government for immediate relief.
Due to the government’s pro-people policies, he assured that inflation-hit citizens will experience further relief in the near future.
“Moreover, the reduction of the interest rate from 22 percent to 20 percent will help lower the interest burden on the country’s debts and encourage domestic investment,” he noted.
He called on the nation to unite and contribute to the country’s development and prosperity, urging citizens to show a sense of sacrifice and adopt austerity measures in their lifestyles.
